Wu-Tang Clan’s Raekwon to Executive Produce Richie Weeks Documentary Short – Film News in Brief

Jazz Tangcay, Charna Flam, McKinley Franklin and Sophia Scorziello
·4 min read
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Raekwon of the Grammy-nominated hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan is set to executive produce a new documentary short spotlighting the life of disco superstar Richie Weeks.

“Taking Back the Groove” will showcase the trials, tribulations and success stories of Week’s life. Per the doc’s official logline, “like many Black artists throughout American recording history, his talent was strip-mined to enrich white-owned record labels. Weeks and his manager Jerome Derradji narrate the story of how they clawed back the rights to Weeks’ music and the ongoing fight to restore his legacy and share his music.”

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“Growing up in NY, I was around some of the best disco music – I loved it. It inspired me. Richie, and many artists like him, helped influence the culture,” said Raekwon. “What happened to Richie is an example of something that happens all of the time in the music industry. I’m really glad I can be a part of bringing his story to the world.”

Russell Peters, too, joins the production team as executive producer for “Taking Back the Groove” alongside Dial Tone Films principal, director and producer Celia Aniskovich, editor Brett Banks, cinematographer Bradley Credit and music supervision by Fine Gold Music.

ShotDeck Recreations Contest Returns

The ShotDeck Recreations Contest returns from July 1-31. The third annual contest will encourage filmmakers to compete for the chance to win over $60,000 worth of prizes. For those competing see here for the 2023 contest rules.

Founded by Academy Award-nominated cinematographer Lawrence Sher (“Joker,” “The Hangover Trilogy,” “Garden State”), ShotDeck.com provides filmmakers with the tools to research and express their creative visions, with access to a collection of searchable and high-definition cinematic images.

The ShotDeck contest began in April 2020, after Sher and his wife, creative director Hema Patel, started to recreate famous movie shots from their home with their cell phones, household props and their family as actors. Eventually their efforts went viral, with the help of the hashtag #shotsinisolation, and they soon established an international contest where people could join and recreate their favorite movie shots.

Those who compete could receive one of the many prizes, which include a Sony FX6 grand prize camera package, as well as prizes from amaran, Sidus Link, Filmmaker’s Academy, Rosco, Tiffen, Blackmagic and Wooden Camera.

The 10th Anniversary of the Location Managers Guild International Awards Will Honor ‘Twilight’ Location Scout Beth Tate

The Location Managers Guild International announced nomination for the 10th annual LMGI awards. The awards honor location professionals across the global entertainment industry and this year marks the 20th anniversary of the guild.

Location scout Beth Tate, who has worked on “Twilight” and “Beverly Hills 90210,” will be receiving this year’s Trailblazer Award.

Contemporary television series nominations include “Jack Ryan,” “Succession,” “The Diplomat,” “The Handmaids Tale,” “The Last of Us,” and “The Old Man.” Period television series nominated include “1923,” “Peaky Blinders,” “Perry Mason,” “See” and Westworld.” For serial, anthology or limited series, the “A Spy Among Friends,” “Daisy Jones and the Six,” “The White Lotus,” “Queen Charlotte” and “White House Plumbers.”

Film nominees include contemporary feature films “Glass Onion,” “John Wick 4,” Tár,” “The Covenant” and “Troll,” and period films “All Quiet on the Western Front,” “Argentina 1985,” “The Banshees of Inisherin,” “The Fabelmans” and “The Woman King.”

Eric Roberts Joins Spyder Dobrofsky’s Psychological Horror Feature ‘Down Below’

Eric Roberts (“Babylon,” “Suits”) has joined Spyder Dobrofsky’s upcoming feature, “Down Below.”

The psychological horror film, “centers around a young sheriff and a criminal suspect who find their lives intertwined when both become haunted by a sinister force on Christmas Eve,” per the official logline.

Roberts portrays a police psychologist, who’s having difficulty with his patient, a suspended cop due to an act of violence against a civilian. Roberts is joined by Hutch Dano and Christopher Livingston.

“Down Below” is produced by High Stake Entertainment

The ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Fest to Kick Off in July

The ASCAP Foundation and the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts have joined forces to present The ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Fest.

The festival will consist of three days of in-person programming, giving emerging musical theatre composers the chance to learn from the industry’s top figures. The event takes place on July 11 and lasts through July 13.

“The ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Fest was inspired by Hollywood’s obsession with our fiercely talented ASCAP members and workshop alumni who are taking their musical projects to streaming services,” said The ASCAP Foundation executive director Nicole George-Middleton. “It promises to be an incredible opportunity for emerging music creators to learn from top industry executives and the best musical theatre talent.”

Panel conversations will focus on topics surrounding the future of musical theatre. ASCAP members participating in the sessions include Oscar, Grammy, Tony and Olivier Award-winning songwriters/producers Justin Paul and Benj Pasek; screenwriter, Emmy-winning songwriter and ASCAP Foundation musical theatre workshop alumnus Cinco Paul; and Emmy-nominated songwriting duo and workshop alumni Michael Kooman & Chris Dimond.

Reservations are required for all events and are available at TheWallis.org/ASCAP.

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